Voting-machine.



J. H. DEAN. VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1910.

Patented M3123, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 11, 1910.

1,088,81 1 Patented Mar. 3, 1914. .a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a m II D COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH IO-,WASIHNUTON. D. c. I

J. H. DEAN. VOTING MACHINE.

JAMES H. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

EMPIRE VOTING MACHINE COIVIPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Original application filed October 30, 1905, Serial No.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914..

285,045. Divided and this application filed August 11, 1910. Serial No.578,616.

1 0 all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, JAMES H. DEAN, a I citizen of the United States, anda resident l of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of l Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification. l

The improvement relates to voting ma- 5 chines and seeks to provide asuitable construction which is provided with both ordinary and straightticket keys, and in which provision is made for casting irregularballots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which cannotbe im properly manipulated.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combinations andarrangemcnts of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The machine in which these inventions are embodied is more fullyillustrated in my application No. 285,045 of which this application is adivision. Application 285,045 is now Patent 972,513, issued October 11,1.910.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudiual section of the upper portionof the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the unit frames orsections showing the intei locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a rear view ofthe machine with the back cover-plate re moved. Fig. 4 is a viewpartially in section of the end portion of one of the machine units.Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sections respectively on lines 55 and 6-6 ofFig. 4. Fig. 7 is an end view of the machine with parts shown insection. Fig. 8 is a view of the ribbon-holder employed as part of thefree ballot mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the groupinginterlocking blocks.

The machine shown in the drawings, like that set forth in my priorPatentNo. 636,730 of November 7, 1899, is made up of units or sections, eachunit having counters for all of the candidates fora given ofiice. It isto be understood however that numerous fea tures of the presentinvention are not dependent on the sectional orfunit feature and may beapplied to machines of other types. a

Th machine comprises a base section and a top section, with as manyunits interposed as are required for the number of ofiices to be filledat an election. The units each containing a group of counters for asingle candidate are thus arranged in horizontal rows while the partytickets are arranged in vertical rows.

The frame of the machine is preferably formed of sheet metal andcomprises the base frame 1, the unit or section frames 2. the amendmentsections 3, the straight ticket section a and the top section 5,together with a sheet metal back plate 6. The sections or unit framesmay be held together in any suitable way, as by means of through bolts7. Preferably also, the sections are provided with interlocking tonguesand notches 8 and 9, as indicated. The machine as a whole is carried ata suitable height above the floor upon legs or supports 10, the upperportions only of which are shown in the drawings.

A short shaft 11 is journaled in vertical position upon the upper,central portion of the top frame 5 and a supporting arm 12 is centrallyfixed to the upper projecting end of the shaft. The ends of the supportor arm 12, extend beyond the ends of the machine and carries a laterallyextending bow shaped rod from which hangs a curtain that forms the boothfor the machine. The

arm 12 is provided with depending handles by which the booth may berotated around the machine to alternately inclose and expose the face ofthe machine which carries the voting keys. The short shaft 11 extendsthrough the cover plate of the top section 5 and it is journaled at itslower end in its bracket 16, that is held in place by bolts 17, belowthe top of the upper section 5 and, in the bracket 16, are arranged aratchet wheel 18 and a sprocket 19 which are fixed to the shaft 11. Aspring-held pawl 20 swiveled on one of the bolts 17, engages the teethof the ratchet 18 and prevents the rotation of the shaft 11 and boothconnected thereto in one direction. 7 I

A sprocket wheel journaled on a stud 22 at one end of the top section 5,is connected to the sprocket 19 by a chain 23. The lower face of thesprocket 21 is provideclwith a shoulder 'orkey 24, which is "adapted" to"fit a correspoinling key-way formed in a crown piece upon the upper endof the motor shaft 26. This shaft 26 is square as shown, and extendsthrough all of the units or sections of the machine. \Vithin each unitsection is arranged a sleeve 27 having a square hole to fit the motorshaft and each sleeve has an upper, lower and central flange as shown,forming grooves 28 within which are set the tappet pins 29 and 30.

The central unit frames or sections are preferably channel. ortrough-like, that is to say, the bottoms of the sections are closed andtheir tops opened. On the bottom of each section is arranged to slide abar 31 for operating the counter actuators of that section. it the topof the unit is arranged a longitudinally extending restoring bar 32 forlocking the voting keys and for restoring them to normal position. Atthe end of the unit frame each of these bars is provided with a squarehead 33 which snugly fits between the front and back portions thereofand which is provided upon one side with a l hook 34cand on its oppositeside with a.

shoulder 34 similar to that shown at left end of Fig. 2 in connectionwith the bar 31. The tappet pins 29 and sleeve 27. cooperate with thehooks 30 upon the motor 34 and f shoulders 34 to shift the actuating barand 3 restoring bar back and forth. The motor shaft rotates in thedirection of the arrow and it should be noted, that the tappet pin 29for operating the actuator bar, is in advance of the pin 30. whichoperates the restoring bar.

Each of the o'tlice sections or units is preferably provided with six orseven counters or reg'sters. Each of the counters is provided with threedials 35 and each dial has ten figures which show through openings inthe front plate of the unit frame as shown in Fig. 2 of Patent 9714.513.Each dial is a tached to a. sleeve 37 carrying; gears by which onerevolution of the unit dial is connected to the tens dial so as toadvance it one step and in like manner advance the l'mndreds dial whenthe tens dial has completed a revolution. The units and tons sleeves areprovided with single actuator teeth 38 which cooperate with intermittentgears 39 on the tens and hundreds sleeves respectively. The tens andhundreds sleeves are provided with looking wheels 40 which cooperatewith cylindrical surfaces 4L1 upon the tens and units sleevesrespectively, and these surfaces are mutilated at points opposite theactuator teeth 38 so as to free the corresponding locking wheel 40 whenthe corresponding actuator tooth 38 is in engagement with the gear 39.This particular arrangement of operating gearing for the counter Theunits and hundreds sleeves 37 are mounted upon the forward reduced endsof cross studs while the tens sleeve is mounted upon the forward ends ofthe cross studs which are reduced at their extreme forward ends (seeet). "ifhese studs are free to turn and are held in place by pins whichare driven through the same. just inside of the back plate of the unitframe after the tll lS are inserted. The stud 42 upon which the unitsleeve is placed is provided. with a square part or key 4hupon which theunit sleeves 3T fit. The end of th s stud projects beyond the end of theface of the frame and is made square to receive a crank or tool by whichthe counter wheels. when rel ased from their actuator, mav be returnedto zero.

'lhe several voting he 1 5 extend through openings in the front of the,unit frame and the rear ends are connected to U-shaped slides 443, eachof which is freely mounted upon two of the pins The key-locking andrestoringbar 32 (sec i and is provided with shoulders or lugs 56 on itsfront edge which cooperate with pins to normally hold the keys 4:) inlocked position. Pins 57 extend through the slides 4A5 as shown. justbehind the rear ends of the keys. As the voter approaches the macnineand the booth is turned to inclcse its face, as is shown in Patent No.972,513, the pin 30 will engage the hook i-lt and shift the restoringbar to move the lugs 51 away from. pins 57, so that the keys may bemoved to set the corresponding actuators. As "the voter retreats fromthe machine, the tappet 3O cooperates with the shoulder 34. to shift therestoring bar to the opposite direction and the cam-faces of the lugs 56engage the pins 51 on the slides and force the keys and actuators hackto normal locked position.

It should be noted that the movement of the motor shaft 26 is always inthe same direction inasmuch as the centrally mounted booth alwaysrevolves in one direction and can only revolve in one direction aboutthe ma :hine. The actuator bar tappet 29 in advance of the restoring bartappet 30 insures that the actuator bar w ll be operated first both whenthe voter advances to and when he retreats from the machine. If therestoring or locking bar were operated first as the voter approaches themachine, he could then push in one or more of the keys and actuatorsbefore the actuator-bar was shifted, so that, when this did occur. oneor more of the counters would be moved back one number. Of course. theactuator-bar must be operated before the restoring bar as the voterleaves the machine, for otherwise the counters would not properlyregister the dials is set forthin prior application filed ballot cast.

by me No. Tet-2,031 December 80, 1899, and

need not be more fully here.

T limiting mechanism for preventing the voter from push ng n more than acor tain number of the candidate keys, comprises a series of wedge-blockseparators controlled by the keys and grouping mechanism. Each of thecandidate group sections or units is provided with a series ofwedge-blocks 72 (see Fig. 2) which slide upon the bottom of the sectionin contact with the rear wall thereot. Each section has one morewedge-block than it has keys and the wedge-blocks are cut away at theirfor ward, adjacent edges to form spaces '73 which receive the separatorpins 74. These separators are connected by links 7 to pins 57, extendingthrough the slides lt) in rear of the keys 45. The cut-away portions ofthe blocks forming the spaces 7 3, are beveled or inclined at their rearends so that the separators 7%, whenever the corresponding key isactuated, will be forced between the adjacent blocks to elongate theseries of blocks. The connecting links 75 permit the movement of theblocks and separators 7st transversely of the keys without changing therelation between the separators and wedgeblocks. Obviously it is onlynecessary to limit the movement of the first and last blocks of anyseries of blocks in one or more of the candidate group sections to limitthe number of keys which can be actuated. If the movement of the seriesof blocks is limited to one step, a. to the diameter of one oi theseparators 7 4, one key only can be pushed in. If it is limited to twosteps, two keys can be pushed in and so on.

In the arrangement shown, the center block of the series in each unit orsection is fixed in position by pins or studs 77, (see Fig. 2). One endblock is provided with a lug'78 which engages a notch in the end of asliding bar 79. Bar 79 slides upon the bottom of the section between thefront edges of the blocks 7 2 and the rear edge of the actuator rack-bar31. The block at the other end of the section pivoted to the center of ahorizontal link 80, which is slotted at its forward end to engage a pin80' on the end of bar 79. The rear end of the link 80 projects through aslot in the rear wall of the section and is connected to the means bywhich the movement of the blocks is limited. If one or more of theseparators to the left of the center fixed wedge-block are pushed in,the bar 79 will move the link 80 one or more steps in accordance withthe number of separators so operated. If the separators at the right ofthe fixed block are pushed in, the right hand end block will move thelink 80 one or more steps in accordance with the number of separatorspushed in, and it would move the link in the same directlon as thelatter is moved by the bar 79. By this arrangement the extent ofmovement of the individual blocks and separators transversely to-t'hekeys, is considerably cut down.

For example, in Fig. 2 four separators are shown and if all are pushedin, the link 80 will be moved four steps, but no one block will havemoved more than two steps. By r ason of this arrangement, the links orar rows 75 which connect the separators with the keys and whichcompensate for the transverse movement of the separators relatively tothe keys, can be much shorter than they would have to be it one of theblocks of the series moved as many steps as there were separators whenall of the separators were pushed in. It will of course be understood,that unless the section is arranged in a multicandidate group, themovement of link 80 is limited to one step so that this arrangement isonly of particular advantage when the section or unitis to be arrangedin a multicandidate group. Br.U it is important that all of the sectionsshould be so connected. that they can be placed or assembled with otherof the units in a multicandidate group, as may be desired.

Each link 80 is connected to one of the limiting bars 81 Ofhtllegrouping mechanism, preferably by means of an adjustable connectioncomprising a link 82 which is pivoted to the rear end of the link 80 andwhich is provided with a slot arranged to receive a pin 83 connected tothe ends of the sec tions of the limiting bar 81. An adjusting screw Sl:extends longitudinally through the link 82 and engages the cross-pin 83.Each bar 81. is as stated. preferably formed ol' St)2 l'2ll(:. sectionswhich extend across the rear face of the machine and on opposite sidesof a guide "frame 85 see Fig. 3, secured to, but spaced "from the rearface of the machine. This guide frame comprises the lnrrizontal bars 85through which the sup-- porting screws 86 extend, and the pairs ofvertical bars 87 secured to the ends of the horizontal bars Between thebars 85 are arranged the space or guide bars 88. which are narrower thanthe vertical bars 87 so that guide slots are formed to receive theoverlapping limiting plates 89. These limiting plates are triangular inoutline as shown. and are provided with squared ends which abut snuglyagainst the guide bars 88 and the plates can therefore only shift in avertical direction within the guide frame. Removable pins 90 extendthrough the bars 87 and limiting plates 89 and hold them in the positionshown in Fig. The sections of each of the limiting bars 81 are connectedby a cross-pin 91 which extends between two of the limiting plates andengages the inclined edge of the lowermost limiting plate.

The machine is provided with one more of the limiting plates 89 than ithas candidate group sections, so that the pin 91 on each of the severallimiting bars 81 which correspond in number to the candidate groupsections, co'ciperates with two of the limiting plates. It the plates 89on opposite sides of any one of the pins 91 are fixed in position, thatpin will be arrested by engaging the lower edge of the plate above itwhen the space blocks and limiting bar 81 oi the corresponding unit orsection, have been moved one step. When any of the candidate groupsections or units are to be used for a single ol'lice, that is torepresent there are several persons to be elected, and

such cc ditions necessitate multicandidate groims. T h at is, several ofthe othce rows or units must be coupled together to permit a voter tocast all oi his ballots for the candidates named in a. single row, or tovote the l ticket or otherwise cast his vote.

For this purpose, any of the limiting plates 89 may be unlocked byremoving the pins 90. it the top and bottom plates alone are el d inposition while the intermediate ates are unlocked, the whole machinewill e thrown into a multicandidate group and 0 voter may push in asmany keys as there we ollice units or ollice rows, and he may votes in asingle row, vote or cut up his ballot in any Usually however, it is notwhole machine as a hunch all of his 1 straight ticket desired manner.necessary to use the multicandidate group. Most of the units ordinarilywill represent but a single otlioe and the limiting plates on eitherside of the or 's 81 corresponding to the single oi'lice groups, will helocked in place by the pins .IU. ll l'iole a few adjacent units orsections are thrown into a multicandidate group, the. limi ing platebelow the bar 81 of the lower most section of the group and the plateabove the bar Si o'r' the uppermost section of the group, will be lockedwhile the intermediate plates are left free. The voter may then push inas many keys in the multicandidate group as there are sections or otiicorows thus arranged in the group, and these votes may he distrihutedwithin the multicandidate group in any desired manner.

To prevent. interference with the limitin and grouping mechanism andother parts on the rear face of the machine, these parts are inclcsed ina casing carried at its upper 'e on pins and secured in place at itsrower edge by a. lock so that only the city clerk or other properotiicialhaving the l l l l i l l i l l key to the lock 9%, can haveaccess to the limiting mechanism for properly adjusting or setting thesame prior to an election.

The sections of the limiting bars Sl extend on opposite sides of a pairof vertically disposed parallel movement bars 95 and 96. These bars arepivotally connected at their ends to links or hell levers 97 and 98.These links are carried intermediate their ends on pivots 99 and 10()which are mounted respectively in the sections 3 and 41; of the machine.The link 98 is fixed to the pivot 100 and the rear end of the latter isarranged opposite an opening in the coverplate 6 and has a squaredportion adapted to receive a suitable key by which the judge of electionmay shift the bars 95 and 9h. liar 96 is ar 'filljittl to engage andcooperate with a series of pins .101 extending between the sections ofthe limiting bars 81 to lock the bars and space-blocks connected theretoagainst. movement with the bar 96 in the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 3.

l v v u I and with all of the pins 101 in pl ace, none 01' the votingkeys can be pushed in. \Vhen special class electors are to vote forcertain o'liices. the pins lOl ol the limiting bars 81, connected to thesections or units representthese ollices, are removed. hen a specialclass voter is to cast a ballot, the judge of election will shift theclass-bar 96 into pcsition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thiswill lock all ot the keys of the machine except those representii'ig theol'lices to which the special class elector is entitled to cast aballot. The bar 90 is cut away or notched at its upper end so that thepivots at its ends may be brought in line above the pivots .l. and 100,and the weight of bar 95 will securely hold the bar 90 in this normalposition. shown in full lines in Fig. 3 so that there no danger that itwill he accidentally shifted to lock the machine.

Means are provided for controlling the casting of tree ballots forirregular candidates whose names are not on the machine. Such. meansconsists of devices by which a tree ballot may he so marked as toindicate the oliices for which the elector has a right to cast a treeballot. That is to say, the free ballot so marked as to identify thoseoilices tor which the voter has not cast a hallct for one of the regularcandidates (hose names appear upon the face of the machine. Thesedevices are so connected to the limiting mechanism that this object isattained. Preferably, printers bearing identifying numerals, names orother marks corresponding to the several o'l'lices are employed. "rheseprinters are actuated by suitable keys and their operation is controlledby the locking and limiting mechanisms.

Each of the sections or units is provided at its end with a plate 103which is riveted thereto and which is provided on its inner face with acut-away space 101 and on its outer face with a clip 105. The plates 103are of the same width as the separate sections of the machine and whenthe sections are set one upon the other, the cutaway spaces 10-1 form acontinuous slot which receives a holder 106. This holder is provided onits upper end with an out-turned clip 107, which supports the holder inplace. A plate 108 having prongs on its upper edge, is secured to theinner face of the holder 100, and the wires 109 secured to and dependingfrom the holder, are provided on its lower ends with prongs. An inkingribbon 110 is stretched between the prongs of the plate 108 and theprongs on the lower ends of the wires 109 are so held in place withinthe cut-away spaces 104. The free ballot is placed by the voter withinthe clip 105 and each section or unit is provided with a printingplunger or head 111 arranged to shift through openings 112 in the end ofthe section and in the plate 10", and thus force the inking ribbon 110against the free ballot to impress the identifying number or other markupon the free ballot. Each of the printing heads bears its ownparticular identifying number, name or ether mark which corresponds tothe candidate represented by the unit or section in which the plunger ismounted. The plunger is carried in a block 113 arranged be tween a pairof plates 11 1 which are secured to the bottom of the section in frontof the end of the actuatmr-bar 31. The front edge of the actuatm-bar 31engages the rear plate 11% so that the end of the bar is guided by theplate.

The counter at the extreme right hand end of the section registers thenumber of times that the free ballot printer is operated, and is in allrespects similar to the counting mechanism previously described, exceptthat a rocking-key 115 (see Fig. 4) is employed instead of a. push key.This rocking key is mounted upon the cross-pin 42 and is arranged tooperate the cam 60 thereon to move the slide 46, actuator 47 andseparator 71 connected thereto. The cam and pin in the other countingmechanism are connected to the straight ticket bars which are notemployed in the free ballot mechanism. The pin 15, which carries theactuator 17 of the free ballot register, does not extend through thefront of the casing to form a push key as in the other countingmechanisms.

The pin or rock shaft 12 of the free ballot mechanism carries anactuating shifter for the printer in the form ofacylindrical piece l jif I t I t g l 116 (see Figs. st, 5 and 6), having a slot 117 1 in oneside and a projecting V-shaped piece 117 which in normal positionengages the bottom of the section or unit and limits the movement of theprinter actuator in one direction. A slide 118 shifting longitudinallybetween the plates 111, carries a cross-pin 119 upon which is mounted anarm 120. ine end of the arm is connected by a pair of links 121 to theend of the reciprocating printer head 111. and the other end extendswithin the slot 117 of the shifter 116 above an abutment 122 at thelower end of the slot. The sliding block 118 carries a pin 1 23, towhich is pivoted a bellcrank 121. One arm of the bell-crank is slottedat its end to engage a pin 125 on the end of the restoring-bar The otherarm of the belllever 12-1- is provided with a cam-shaped slot 120, whichengages a pin 127 on a plate 128, which is secured in fixed position tothe plates 11%. The cross-pin 119, which carries the shifter 120 in theslide 118, projects through guide slots 129 in the sides of the plates111 (see Fig. 6). The shifter 120 is provided on its lower edge with alug 180 which is arranged to engage a fixed cross-pin 131 extendingbetween the plates 114.

As the elector enters the booth, the looking or restoring bar 32 isshifted to the left, as described, to release the slides and keys of theseveral registering mechanisms including that belonging to the freeballot devices. At the same time the bell-lever 124 is shifted about itspivot. During this shift the camslot 126 of the bell-lever cooperateswith the fixed pin 127 to move the pivot pin 123, slide 118 and arm 120toward the right or toward the printing head 111 as shown in Figs. 4 and5. If the elector desires to cast a ballot for an irregular candidatefor any office, he will operate the free ballot key corresponding tothat cflice. This will turn the shifter 116 toward the left and theengagement of the abutment 122 thereon with the end of the arm 120 willproject the printing head 111 and the free ballot within the clips 105will be thus printed with an identifying mark representing the officefor which the elector has a right to vote. The operation of courseshifts the separator connected to the free ballot mechanism between thewedge-blocks of the limiting mechanism so that the elector cannot castanother vote for the same oflice by operating any of the regular keys.Of course, the free ballot mechanism may be arranged in a multicandidategroup and then the elector may cast as many ballots either regular orirregular, as there are oflice rows or sections arranged in the group.hen in multicandi date group the ballots which are to be marked by theprinting mechanism should be of a size suflicient to fit within theclips 105 connected to all of the units or sections in the rou 3. herethe sections re )resent. :1

single candidates only small clips may be employed. After the freeballots have thus been printed wlth an identifymg number or other mark,the elector may write thereon the name of the irregular candidate forwhom he desires to cast a ballot and the ballot is then placed within asuitable box. It will be understood of course, that no free ballots willbe counted unless they have been properly marked with the printingmechanism.

As the printer is operated. by the engagement of the abutment 122 withthe tail of the arm 120. the toggle formed by the shifter 120 and thelinks 121 is moved past its line of centers and the movement of theshifter 116 is arrested by the engagement of the abutment 117 thereonwith the lower edge of the arm 120. By this movement of the parts 120and 121 past their line of centers, the printing head is projected andthen withdrawn. It is obvious however, that it cannot again be operatedby any further manipulation. of the key or actuator 110. As the operatorleaves the booth, the restoring bar 32 is shifted toward the right andbell-lever 12a is swung back about the pin 123 so that the cam 126 andpin 127 cooperate to move the slide and shifter back toward the left.This move ment brings the lug 130 on the shifter into engagement withthe fixed pin 131 so that the shifter is turned from its lowermostposition into which it has been moved by the shifter 116 back to itsuppermost normal position shown in Fig. 5. During this restoringmovement of the shifter, the printing head 111. of course projectedtoward the right and withdrawn, but it is not projected enough to againmark a ballot, since, during this restoring movement, the pivot 119 ofthe shifter is at the inner end of the slot 129 and the slide 118 andarm are drawn away from the right hand end of the section or unit. Theparts are so arranged that it is only when the pin 119 and shifter 120are in their extreme, outermost position that the printing head will beprojected far enough by the shift of the toggle members 120 and 121 pastthe line of centers to mark the ballot.

What I claim as my invention is 1. in voting machines, the combinationwith the series of counters, the series of limiting blocks therefor andseparators cooperating with said blocks, of connections between the endblocks of the series, one of the intermediate blocks being held againstmovement.

2. In voting machines, the combination with the oflice group ofregistering devices, of a series of limiting blocks and separatorscooperating therewith and a connecting link between the end blocks ofthe series, one of the intermediate blocks being fixed in position.

l 3. In voting machines, the combination with the office group of votingmechanisms and with the series of limiting blocks and separatorstherefor, one of the intermediate blocks being fixed in position, of anarm pivoted. to one of the end blocks of the series. a bar connectingsaid arm with the other end block of the series and means for limitingthe movement of said arm.

t. In voting machines. the combination with the otlice groups ofcounters, limiting blocks and separators therefor, of a set of limitingblocks connected to the groups of blocks by bars, a set of devices forlimiting the movement of said bars and means for releasably holding saidlimiting devices in position.

5. In voting machines. the combination with the office groups ofcounters and limiting mechanisms for each group, of a set of barsconnected to the limiting mechanisms of the several groups, a set ofoverlapping limiting plates cooperating with said bars and means forremovably holding said plates in position.

(5. in voting machines, the combination with the o'liice groups ofcounters and limiting mechanisms for each group, of a set of barsconnected to the limiting mechanisms of the several groups, a series ofoverlapping sliding plates cooperating with said bars to limit themovement thereof, and removable pins for holding said plates inposition.

T. in voting machines, the combination with the ofiice groups ofcounters and limiting mechanisms for each group, of a set of barsconnected to the limiting mechanisms of the several groups, a series ofoverlapping, sliding plates each having one inclined edge and onestraight edge, pins on the ends of said bars between the inclined edgeof one plate and the straight edge of the next adjacent plate andremovable means for holding said plates in position.

8. in voting machines, the combination with the oflice groups of votingmechanisms and with the limiting blocks and separators therefor, of aset of limiting bars, adjustable connections between said bars and theseparate groups of limiting blocks, a series of overlapping slidingplates, a frame wherein said plates are mounted, pins on said barsengaging said plates and removable means for holding said plates inposir1011.

9. In voting machines, the combination with. the oflice groups of votingdevices and limiting mechanism therefor, l of a frame fixed to themachine casing, a series of overlapping sliding plates carried in saidframe. releasable means for holding said plates in position. a set oflimiting bars each comprising two sections extending on opposite sidesof said frame, pins extending between the sections of said bars andbetween the plates in said frame, and connections between the oppositeends of said bars and the limiting mechanism of the several groups ofvoting devices.

10. In voting machines, the combination with the office groups of votingdevices, of limiting mechanism for each of said groups comprising aseries of blocks, the central one of which is fixed in position, an armpivoted to one of the end blocks of the series, a link connecting saidarm with the other end block of the series, a series of limiting barsconnected to said arms, a set of overlapping sliding plates cooperatingwith said bars to limit the movement thereof and releasable means forholding said plates in position.

11. In voting machines, the combination with a series of unit frames orsections connected to form the frame of the machine, of an ofiice groupof voting mechanisms mounted in each of said frames, limiting mechanismin each of said unit frames, a set of limiting bars arranged outside ofsaid frames and connected to the separate limiting mechanisms thereof,of a set of devices cooperating with said bars to limit the movementthereof, a casing arranged over said limiting bars and devices and alock for holding said casing in position.

12. In voting machines, the combination with the office groups of votingdevices and with limiting mechanisms therefor, of a set of barsconnected to said limiting mechanisms, means for limiting the movementof said bars, a series of removable pins on said bars arranged in line,and a parallel move ment bar shiftable into and out of engagement withsaid pins.

13. In voting machines, the combination with the oflice groups of votingdevices and with the limiting mechanisms therefor, of a parallelmovement bar, a series of bars con-- nected to said limiting mechanisms,each comprising separate sections extending on opposite sides of saidparallel movement bar, means for limiting the movement of said set ofbars and a series of removable pins connecting the sections of said barsand cooperating with said parallel movement bar to lock out certain ofthe office groups of voting devices.

14. In voting machines, the combination with the office group of votingdevices and limiting mechanism therefor, of a printer in said group formarking independent ballots with an identification charactercorresponding to the group and a key-actuated shifter rapable ofoperating said printer once only for each operation of the machine, saidshifter being connected to the limiting mechanism.

15. In voting machines, the combination with the oflice group of votingdevices and limiting mechanism therefor, of a printing head or plungerassociated with said group of voting devices and a key-actuated shifterarranged to advance and retract said print ing plunger, said shifterbeing capable of operating said plunger once only for each operation ofthe machine.

16. In voting machines, the combination with the ofiice group of votingdevices and limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocating printinghead or plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a leyactuated shifter arranged to advance and retract said printingplunger, said shifter being capable of operating said plunger once onlyfor each operation of the machine and means for restoring the operativerelation between said shifter and said plunger.

17. In voting machines, the combination with the office group of votingdevices and limiting mechanism therefor of a reciprocating printing heador plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a keycontrolledshifter operable once only for each operation of the machine to advanceand retract said printer, a holder for the free ballot, a shifting bararranged to advance and retract said printer to and from said holder andto restore the same into operative relation with said shifter.

18. In voting machines, the combination with the otlice group of votingdevices and with the limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocatinprinting head or plunger associated witi said group of voting devicesfor marking independent ballots, a holder for the independent ballot, akey-controlled shifter operable once only for each operation of themachine to advance and retract said printing head or plunger, a movabledevice for advancing or retracting sa l printing head or plunger to andfrom saic. holder as the voter advances and retreats from the machineand for restoring said printer into operative relation with saidshifter, and connections between said keycontrolled shifter and thelimiting mechanism.

19. In. voting machines, the combination with the office group of votingdevices and with the limiting mechanism therefor, of a shifting printerfor ma king independent ballots, a pivoted arm connected to said printerand a shifter engaging said arm to move it past its central position andadvance and retract said printer.

20. In voting machines, the combination with the o'liice group of votingdevices, and the limiting mechanism therefor, of a shifting print-inghead or plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a pivotedarm, a link connecting said arm to said plunger, a shifter arranged toengage said arm to move the same past its central position and advanceand retract said printing head or plunger and means for restoring saidarm into operative relation with said shifter.

21. In voting machines, the combination with the oliice group of votingdevices, and the limiting mechanism tiierei'ior, of a shifting printinghead or plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a pivotedarm, a link connecting said arm to said plunger, a shifter arranged toengage said arm to move the same past its central position and advanceand retract said printing head or plunger, a holder for the independentballot and means tor advancing and retracting said plunger to and fromsaid holder as the voter advances to and retreats from the machine, saidmeans being also arranged to restore said arm into operative relationwith said shifter.

23. in voting machines, the combination with the oilice group of votingdevices and the limiting mechanism therefor, ot a reciprocating head orplungeixlfor marking independent ballots associated with said group ofvoting devices, a shitting slide, an arm pivoted on said slide, linkcoin'iecting said arm with said printing head or plunger, a shifterarranged to engage said arm to move the saint: past its central positionand advance and retract said plunger and means for moving said slide torestore said arm into operative relation with said shifter.

In voting machines, the combination with the otlice group of votingdevices and the limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocating printinghead or plunger for marking independent ballots associated with saidgroup of voting devices, a shifting slide, an arm pivoted on said slide,a link connecting said arm with plunger, a shifter arranged to engagesaid (lltl printing head or arm to move the same past its centralposition and advance and retract said plunger, means tor moving saidslide and a fixed stop z'irranged to engage said arm as it is shiftedwith said slide and restore it into operative relation with saidshifter.

24:. in voting machines, the con'ibination with the o'llice group ofvoting devices and the limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocatingprinting head or plunger for marking independent ballots associated withsaid group oi? voting devices, a shitting slide, an arm pivoted on saidslide, a link connecting said arm with said printing head or plunger, ashifter arranged to engage said arm to move the same past its centralposition and advance and retract said plunger, a holder for theindependent ballot, means For shiilting said slide to and from saidholder as the voter advances to and retreats from the machine and a.lixed stop arranged to engage said arm as it is moved with said slide torestore the arm into operative rela tion with said shifter.

In voting machines, the combination with a. series of unit trames tittedtogether, of an ol'l'ice group of voting mechanisms carried by eachframe, a printing head for marking independent ballots associated witheach group of voting mechanisms, plates iixed to the ends (it saidilirames having cut a\va spares forming a. continuous slot, a ribbonholder arranged within said SlOL and clips fixed to said plates forholding the independent ballot.

JAMES H. DEAN.

ll'itnesses Haney L. (liner, KATHARINE Gunmen.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C."

